I have a Honda EU3000is and a Champion 3500. When I need quiet power, I use the Honda, otherwise the Champion is my choice. I have about 150 hours on the Champion and it has started and run perfectly - pretty good for a $299 purchase (from Cabelas weekend sale)
Generators
- Thread starter gregfender
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Samandothers
Gold Member
I have a Champion 4000/3500. Actually it is my second one. It was $300 at Tractor Supply. First one over rev'd in its 3rd year and the magnet on the flywheel came apart and broke the coil mount. I liked it enough to get a second one. They are sold in Statesville NC at the RV Store, Camping World I think it is called, for about $300 also.
Ken45101
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We have a Troy-Built and it's so loud that I would generally do without power rather than having it running. That said, we have been fortunate with fairly reliable power.
For camping, we have the quiet Honda generators (EU2000i, EU3000i). I also use them around the farm when I need to run tools since the 2000 is lightweight and easy to load up. And very quiet.
As for the expensive wiring for a transfer switch, all I did was cut a hole in the plexiglas basement window to bring in the power cord. We plug the few things we need into that. Again, we have been lucky in not having serious problems. The last time we had a power outage, my wife cooked breakfast on the wood stove, we didn't even start the generator.
Keeping enough gas around for a prolonged outage is a problem. Gas goes bad over time (this ethanol mix junk is really bad). Stabil helps. But I don't keep enough gas around for run for multiple days. That would be an advantage of a diesel generator, I have enough farm fuel on hand.
For camping, we have the quiet Honda generators (EU2000i, EU3000i). I also use them around the farm when I need to run tools since the 2000 is lightweight and easy to load up. And very quiet.
As for the expensive wiring for a transfer switch, all I did was cut a hole in the plexiglas basement window to bring in the power cord. We plug the few things we need into that. Again, we have been lucky in not having serious problems. The last time we had a power outage, my wife cooked breakfast on the wood stove, we didn't even start the generator.
Keeping enough gas around for a prolonged outage is a problem. Gas goes bad over time (this ethanol mix junk is really bad). Stabil helps. But I don't keep enough gas around for run for multiple days. That would be an advantage of a diesel generator, I have enough farm fuel on hand.
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Overcame the same problem years ago by tapping into the fuel tank of my truck with an auxiliary pump and a selector switch commonly used to switch between two fuel tanks.
Truck holds about 36 gallons so I never have to fill gas cans/equipment anywhere but from my truck
Ken45101
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Yes, that's an ideal solution....as long as you didn't plan to fill the truck the next day....and have a prolonged power outage that night
(BTW, where's your truck, I need some free gas:laughing
Ken
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Yes, that's an ideal solution....as long as you didn't plan to fill the truck the next day....and have a prolonged power outage that night
(BTW, where's your truck, I need some free gas:laughing
Ken
The main reason I did it was because my truck is a Van and no matter how tight the cap on the gas can... it would always smell like gas in the summer heat...
One day I had the idea to tap into the fuel line and it has been well worth it to have the transportation aspect resolved...
Swiftriver
Bronze Member
I prefer Honda. I have a 10 year old EX4500 with over 1800 hours on it. One battery, oil and gas are the only things I have put in it. I also have a EU2000i that I keep in my worktruck. As bounced around, beat up and overloaded as it is, it starts first pull every time. Expensive? Yes, but they last forever.
TimberXX
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I would also suggest Hondas is money is no option. If your on a budget, we had good luck with the Briggs and Stratton. 15 years with no problems.
Tenn_Blue
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We have 3 generators - and working on #4 as a project....:thumbsup:
For camping and hand carry portable, can't beat a honda EU2000 - quiet, VERY reliable, and easy (relatively..) to carry. BUT they are expensive. Balance that against last-forever. We bought the honda almost 10 years ago, and it powered us through 2 hurricanes (Florida), 5 years of camping (truck camper), and lots of short time use. Still going strong....
Also have a coleman (?) brand that I got out of the trash with a busted engine rod - 3500 watts. Put a new Briggs on it and has been running good since - but is kinda loud and bulky- has one of those metal frames around it that protect it, but make it bulky to move compared to the honda "suitcase". This is the portable one that we abuse/loan out/use when noise is not a problem or in a "hostile" environment. If I crush it by accident, I don't have much in it....
Then we have a bigger roll around 5k "portable" that we keep for home power backup - it is the least portable of the bunch, and it doesn't move much. 5K is "enough" backup for our needs if we are selective in what we turn on...
Finally, I am working on building a pto type generator for my garden tractor (Deere 316K) - I figure this will be really handy! Was an old 3k head I have that can hang on the front of the tractor (like a snow blower or front blade) and be fed from the mower mule belt, using the tractor's engine for power. The mower runs enough to not have to worry about the engine not starting when I need it. It can drive the generator to where I need to use it. It won't tie up my "big" tractor in foul weather (one of the complaints I hear about PTO generators...). We will see.....
For camping and hand carry portable, can't beat a honda EU2000 - quiet, VERY reliable, and easy (relatively..) to carry. BUT they are expensive. Balance that against last-forever. We bought the honda almost 10 years ago, and it powered us through 2 hurricanes (Florida), 5 years of camping (truck camper), and lots of short time use. Still going strong....
Also have a coleman (?) brand that I got out of the trash with a busted engine rod - 3500 watts. Put a new Briggs on it and has been running good since - but is kinda loud and bulky- has one of those metal frames around it that protect it, but make it bulky to move compared to the honda "suitcase". This is the portable one that we abuse/loan out/use when noise is not a problem or in a "hostile" environment. If I crush it by accident, I don't have much in it....
Then we have a bigger roll around 5k "portable" that we keep for home power backup - it is the least portable of the bunch, and it doesn't move much. 5K is "enough" backup for our needs if we are selective in what we turn on...
Finally, I am working on building a pto type generator for my garden tractor (Deere 316K) - I figure this will be really handy! Was an old 3k head I have that can hang on the front of the tractor (like a snow blower or front blade) and be fed from the mower mule belt, using the tractor's engine for power. The mower runs enough to not have to worry about the engine not starting when I need it. It can drive the generator to where I need to use it. It won't tie up my "big" tractor in foul weather (one of the complaints I hear about PTO generators...). We will see.....
Jamming
Gold Member
Agree ! :thumbsup: great inverter generator, Eco switch allows rpm to change with load. So quiet it's hard to believe its running.
